Wasat Al Balad

Amman, Jordan

It may look dirty, sketchy, and chaotic, and indeed it is dirty, sketchy, and chaotic, but downtown Amman, also known as Wasat Al Balad (center of the nation), is the beating heart of the city. It's easy to get lost in the winding and hilly streets, lined with shops selling just about everything. While most of Amman is peaceful and orderly, downtown is awash in humanity. Despite ...

The Cedars

The Cedars

Beirut, Lebanon

The Cedars are among the last survivors of the immense forest that once covered Mount Lebanon. Though modest in number (about 400), each cedar is a dignified survivor of ancient times when cedar wood played a major role in the earliest history of Byblos, Sidon and Tyre. It was used by Egyptians to build temples and ships and also in building the Phoenician fleet. Some of the trees are betwee...

National Museum of China

National Museum of China

Beijing, China

The National Museum of China is at the tail end of a renovation which will modernize the museum and more than triple its exhibition space. The world’s largest collection of Chinese antiquities is housed here. The museum covers Chinese history up until the end of the end of the Qing Dynasty. The oldest item on display is the remains of Yuanmou Man, dating back 1.7 million years.
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